Mosaic Records

Mosaic Records is an American specialist jazz record label, founded in 1983 by Michael Cuscuna and Charlie Lourie (current partner Fred Pustay, joined in 1994) to issue coherent limited edition box sets (initially on LP) of jazz recordings by individual musicians, which had fallen out-of-print. Mosaic headquarters are located at 35 Melrose Pl, Stamford, Connecticut (the Mosaic logo can be seen outside), while the information bureau is located at the adjoining 425 Fairfield Avenue. The sets would be leased from the major record companies, usually for a three- or five-year period, with the edition limited to a specific number of copies. Sometimes the complete catalog of a label would appear: the complete masters of Milt Gabler's Commodore Records were contained in three sets consisting of some 66 LPs. In 2003 the company initiated the Select series of smaller sets, not necessarily "complete" in the usual sense. In 2006, the company began a third line, Mosaic Singles, a series dedicated to reissuing individual albums on CD which have not previously been available in US editions, or at all.

Mosaic's sets are primarily sold and distributed directly to customers, initially promoting through leading jazz publications, then mail order catalog, and now the internet. The first three years of releases did not sell particularly well. In 1986, Cuscuna reached out to a record producing acquaintance, Fred Seibert for help. With partner Alan Goodman their company, Fred/Alan Inc. in New York, devised a catalog and strategy that immediately increased sales almost tenfold and put the company on a solid footing for the first time. Mr. Goodman continues to write the copy for all new release sales.

Over two hundred and fifty sets have now been issued by the company (though most sets' leases have now expired). Since 1998, Capitol Records has owned 50% of Mosaic, and is part of the Blue Note Label Group.